Golf ball retriever

ABSTRACT

A golf ball retriever comprises a box-like member defining a plurality of compartments therein for scooping a golf ball out of a water hazard or the like. A shutter is pivotally mounted on the member to normally close an opening to each compartment to permit a golf ball to move therepast and into the compartment. Stop means are formed on the member to limit outward movement of the shutter to prevent the golf ball from moving out of the compartment when it is retrieved.

United States Patent 1 Halone [54] GOLF BALL RETRIEVER [76] Inventor:William Halone, 776 Sierra View Way, Chico, Calif. 95926 [22] Filed: May19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 144,799

52 U.S. c1. ..294/19 A 51 Int. Cl. ..A47i 13/06 {58] Field of Search..294/19 R, 19 A, 50.6, 50.8, 294/509, 55; 56/328, 329, 332, 333,400.11,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 ,046,044 7/1962 Christle294/19, A 3,604,190 9/ l97l Wray Fryda .,.....306/6 Feb. 20, 19732,738,214 3/1956 Zimmers ..294/l9 A Primary Examiner-Evon C. BlunkAssistant ExaminerJohnny D. Cherry Attorney-Fryer, Tjensvold, Feix,Phillips & Lempio 5 7 ABSTRACT A golf ball retriever comprises abox-like member defining a plurality of compartments therein forscooping a golf ball out of a water hazard or the like. A shutter ispivotally mounted on the member to normally close an opening to eachcompartment to permit a golf ball to move therepast and into thecompartment. Stop means are formed on the member to limit outwardmovement of the shutter to prevent the golf ball from moving out of thecompartment when it is retrieved.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED H 2 1915 3.717. 371

SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR. WlLLlAM HALONE a azz, WW flaw A TTORNFVSPATENTEDFEBZOIQYS I 3, 17 371 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 3

FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM HALONE BY I 25 ,14, ad, m 4 MW PATENTEDFEBZOISYS 3,717, 371

SHEET 3 or 3 FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM HALONE FIG. 7 BY 5%,, 5 fiflamffiw A TTORNEVS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a golf ball retriever adapted forretrieving a golf ball which has been hit into a water hazard or thelike. Conventional retrievers normally comprise wire or prong-likemembers, formed into a cup shape, adapted to scoop a ball out of thewater. The retriever components are normally fixed relative to eachother and the ball is retrieved by carefully placing the cup portionthereof over the ball and rotating the retriever 180 to retrieve same.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION This invention relates to anon-complex and economical golf ball retriever adapted to expeditiously,efficiently and positively retrieve a golf ball. The retriever comprisesa member defining at least one compartment therein which has a volumelarge enough to retain a golf ball. A forward opening is formed in themember, to communicate with the compartment, to permit the ball to movetherethrough. Retaining means are movably mounted on the member tonormally at least partially close the opening for automaticallypermitting ingress of the ball into the compartment, but forautomatically preventing egress of the ball through the opening once itis retrieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a golf ball retriever embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a slightly enlarged, cross-sectional view of the retrievertaken in the direction of arrows II-II in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are slightly reduced bottom plan and front elevationalviews of the retriever, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a reversed plan view taken in the direction of arrows V-V inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an isometric and partially broken view of another retrieverembodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a slightly enlarged, sectional view taken in the direction ofarrows VII-VII in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The FIGS. 1-5 retrievercomprises box-like member 10 having an adjustable handle 11 attachedthereto by means of a standard, releasable wing nut and bolt assembly12. The handle may be of the telescoping type which is normally employedon a golf ball retriever to permit collapsing thereof for insertion intoa golf bag. As will be hereinafter more fully understood, the retrievermay be moved in the direction of arrow R (FIGS. 1 and 2) for purposes ofretrieving a golf ball G from a water hazard or the like.

Member 10 comprises sections 13-16 secured together by means ofelongated and capped bolts 17 and 18. A cover plate 19, having handle 11attached thereto, is secured to intermediate sections 14 and 15 and thebolts by means of curved flanges and 21 (FIGv 2). The four sections havevertically disposed and parallel partitions 22-25 formed integrally 2therewith to comprise means defining three separate compartments 26-28(FIG. 3).

The compartments have substantially the same volume and configurationand, therefore, only the details of compartment 26 and its attendantstructures will be described in detail. Such compartment comprises arear opening 29 partially closed by aligned rib portions 30 and 31. Therib portions are formed integrally with sections 13-14, respectively.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, each rear opening 29 is sufficientlysmall to prevent a golf ball G from moving therethrough, but issufficiently large to permit mud, debris and the like to passtherethrough during a retrieving operation. Means defining a larger,forward opening 32 comprises aligned rib portions 33 of sections 13 and14 and also partitions 22 and 23. Such opening is sufficiently large topermit ingress of the golf ball G therethrough.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom opening 34 of thecompartment is partially closed by horizontally disposed skid plates orrunners 35 and 36 formed as integral parts "of the bottom portions ofpartitions 22 and 23, respectively. Such runners prevent the golf ballfrom dropping out of the retriever once it is retained in compartment26. The runners intersect and cooperate with the curved front edges ofthe partitions to aid in guiding the retriever over submerged debris andthe like during the retrieving operation.

Retaining means 37 (FIG. 1) are movably mounted on member 10 to normallyat least partially close forward opening 32 for automatically preventingegress of the golf ball out of compartment 26 and through the opening.In the illustrated embodiment, such means comprises a shutter member 38formed integrally with a pivot shaft 39. The pivot shaft is rotatablymounted in bearing apertures 40 and 41 (FIG. 5) formed on sections 13and 14, respectively.

Cooperating stop means 42 and 43 (FIGS. 2 and 5) may be formedintegrally with pivot shaft 39 and member 10, respectively, and adjacentto each end of the pivot shaft to control pivoting of shutter 38 betweenits full and dotted line positions shown in FIG. 2. Shutter 38 in FIG. 2is suitably broken-away to clearly illustrate stop means 42 ascomprising a lug formed as an integral part of pivot shaft 39. Each stopmeans 43 may comprise a proturberance having a V- shaped cutout formedthereon to define intersecting surfaces 44 and 45 for respectivelylimiting counterclockwise and clockwise movement of the shutter.

Alternatively, rib portions 33, for example, can be suitably constructedand positioned to provide stop means for limiting pivotal movement ofshutter 38 away from compartment 26. In particular, the shutter would belimited in its counterclockwise movement in FIG. 2 by engagement withthe .rib portions to prevent egress of the golf ball out of thecompartment.

In the preferred embodiment, member 10 comprises a sturdy andnon-corrosive material, such as plastic or aluminum, whereas shutters 38each preferably comprise a dense and weighty material such as steel orlead coated with a non-corrosive material such as plastic. The shuttersare preferably weighted to normally permit them to freely fall to theirfull line, generally vertical position shown in FIG. 2 under theinfluence of gravity. Such a tendency for the shutters to assume theirnormal position is particularly useful when the retriever is pulled orpushed through water which has a counteracting tendency to prevent theshutters from closing once the golf ball moves into compartment 26.

The retrieving operation is commenced by removing the retriever from thegolfers bag and by rotating member to its FIG. 1 position uponsequential release and tightening of wing nut 12. The retriever may benormally stored in the golf bag, to assume the approximate shape of agolf club, by positioning member 10 parallel to the longitudinal axis ofhandle 11. The handle is extended and the retriever is then placed inthe water in proximity to the lost golf ball.

The retriever is then pulled through the water in the direction of arrowR whereby the golf ball G will enter one of the openings 32 andautomatically move shutter 38 to its dotted line position to be lodgedin compartment 26 (FIG. 2). It should be noted that handle 11 may bemoved 180 from its FIG. 1 position to adapt it for pushing rather thanpulling during a retrieving operation. Also, the angle or inclination ofhandle 11 relative to ground level and member 10 may be adjusted byselectively positioning the handle in arcuate slot 46.

The retriever is then removed from the water and turned upside down topermit the ball to freely fall out of the enlarged top opening of one ofthe outboard compartments. When the ball is lodged in the centercompartment, the ball may be removed by manipulating the closing shutter38. It should be understood that any desired number of compartments maybe employed in the retriever, depending on the golfers desires. Forexample, the three compartmented retriever illustrated in FIG. 1 allowsfor considerable misalignment of the retriever with respect to theretrieved golf ball.

In particular, when the golf ball strikes the leading, arcuate edge ofone of the partitions 22-25, it will tend to roll sideways over into oneof the compartments 26-28. In addition, guides 35 and 36 prevent theretriever from digging into mud or the like,'normally found in waterhazards, to further aid in correctly aligning an opening 32 with theball. Also, aligned opening 32, compartment 26 andrear opening 29 willpermit mud and other debris to freely pass therethrough during theretrieving operation.

FIGS. 6 and 7 disclosed another retriever embodiment whereinback-to-back golf ball openings 32: each communicate with a commoncompartment 26a. Identical numerals (accompanied by an a) are employedin these figures to depict structures and openings corresponding tothose depicted by identical numerals in FIGS. l-5.

Upright partitions 22a and 23a are secured together by elongated bolts17a and 18a to define the compartment. A cover member 190 has curvedflanges 20a and 21a which cooperate with the bolts to form astructurally integrated member 10a. A telescopic type handle 11a isattached to member 19a by means of a wing nut and bolt assembly 12awhich releasably engages an arcuate adjustment slot 460.

Substantially identical shutters 38a are pivotally mounted between thepartitions and are adapted to engage shutter positioning stop meansidentical to those described above. It can be seen that the FIGS. 6 and7 retriever may be either pushed or pulled on runners 35a and 36awithout having a readjust handle 11a to accommodate same. The golf ballwill thus enter either one of the openings 32a to be confined incompartment 260.

In view of the above description, it can be seen that each retrieverembodiment of this invention exhibits the following desiderata: theretriever is compact and may be readily folded into a storage positionby merely loosening wing nut 12 or 12a whereby it may be placed in agolf bag to assume the approximate size of a golf club; the retrievermay be suitably designed and manufactured to assume any desired lateralwidth to cover a corresponding sweeping area during a retrievingoperation; golf ball G is positively trapped in one of the compartments26 or 26a during a linear stroke of the retriever in contrast toconventional retrievers which must normally be rotated or otherwisemoved in a compound fashion to position the ball therein; the retrievermay be used in murky or otherwise unclear water whereas conventionalretrievers normally depend on a visual contact with the ball forretrieving purposes; theforward, rounded portions of partitions 22-25 or22a-23 and the attached guide runners permit the retriever to smoothlyglide over uneven material on the bottom of a water hazard; theretriever may be conveniently handled due to its lightweight and compactconstruction; the retriever is structurally rugged and will hold itsshape after periodic usage; the retriever is adaptable to various waterdepths by means of arcuate adjustment slot 46; and the retriever has alow resistance to plugging by mud or other debris during use.

What is claimed is: 1. A golf ball retriever comprising a member havingmeans, including a pair of laterally spaced side partitions, a frontside, a back side and a bottom side, defining at least one compartmentfor retaining a golf ball therein,

means forming an opening in the front side of said member, communicatingwith said compartment, which is sufficiently large to permit ingress ofa golf ball therethrough,

retaining means movably mounted on said member normally at leastpartially closing said opening for automatically permitting ingress of agolf ball into said compartment and cooperating with means defining saidcompartment for automatically preventing egress of a golf ball out ofsaid compartment through said opening and laterally spaced runner meanspositioned at the bottom side of said member to define substantialsurface portions for preventing a golf ball from escaping thereby andfor permitting said member to glide over sunken debris and the like.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises ashutter pivotally mounted on said member to normally assume a generallyvertically disposed position thereon.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said shutter is composed of aweighty material whereby said shutter will be normally urged to itsgenerally vertically disposed position under the influence of gravity.

' 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said shutter is attached to a pinpivotally mounted on said member.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said pin is generally horizontallydisposed and is pivotally mounted between said partitions.

6. The invention of claim 1 further comprising stop means on said memberfor limiting movement of said retaining means in at least a forwarddirection of movement away from said compartment.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said retaining means comprises ashutter pivotally mounted on said member and said stop means comprisesat least one proturberance having a V-shaped notch formed thereondefining diverging surface portions positioned to limit both clockwiseand counterclockwise movements of said shutter about a pivot axisthereof.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein curved front edges, at least in partdefining said opening, are formed on the front side of each partition tomerge with said runner means.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said runner means comprises anelongated and generally horizontally disposed runner attached to each ofsaid partitions in laterally spaced relationship.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a pluralityof separable and aligned sections attached together by common boltmeans.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least three laterally spaced andvertically disposed partitions define a said compartment between eachpair of adjacent partitions.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said member comprises four of saidpartitions defining three compartments therebetween.

13. The invention of claim 1 wherein a top side of said member is opento permit the egress of a golf ball therethroug'h.

14. The invention of claim 1 further comprising an elongated andcollapsible handle attached to said member.

15. The invention of claim 14 further comprising means for adjusting theangle of said handle relative to. said member.

16. A golf ball retriever comprising a member having means defining atleast one compartment for retaining a golf ball therein,

means forming an opening at each of the front and opposite back sides ofsaid member, communicating with said compartment, which is sufficientlylarge to permit ingress of a golf ball therethrough, and

retaining means movably mounted on said member normally at leastpartially closing each of said openings for automatically permittingingress of a golf ball into said compartment and cooperating with meansdefining said compartment for automatically preventing egress of a golfball out of said compartment through said opening.

1. A golf ball retriever comprising a member having means, including apair of laterally spaced side partitions, a front side, a back side anda bottom side, defining at least one compartment for retaining a golfball therein, means forming an opening in the front side of said member,communicating with said compartment, which is sufficiently large topermit ingress of a golf ball therethrough, retaining means movablymounted on said member normally at least partially closing said openingfor automatically permitting ingress of a golf ball into saidcompartment and cooperating with means defining said compartment forautomatically preventing egress of a golf ball out of said compartmentthrough said opening and laterally spaced runner means positioned at thebottom side of said member to define substantial surface portions forpreventing a golf ball from escaping thereby and for permitting saidmember to glide over sunken debris and the like.
 1. A golf ballretriever comprising a member having means, including a pair oflaterally spaced side partitions, a front side, a back side and a bottomside, defining at least one compartment for retaining a golf balltherein, means forming an opening in the front side of said member,communicating with said compartment, which is sufficiently large topermit ingress of a golf ball therethrough, retaining means movablymounted on said member normally at least partially closing said openingfor automatically permitting ingress of a golf ball into saidcompartment and cooperating with means defining said compartment forautomatically preventing egress of a golf ball out of said compartmentthrough said opening and laterally spaced runner means positioned at thebottom side of said member to define substantial surface portions forpreventing a golf ball from escaping thereby and for permitting saidmember to glide over sunken debris and the like.
 2. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a shutter pivotallymounted on said member to normally assume a generally verticallydisposed position thereon.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein saidshutter is composed of a weighty material whereby said shutter will benormally urged to its generally vertically disposed position under theinfluence of gravity.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said shutteris attached to a pin pivotally mounted on said member.
 5. The inventionof claim 2 wherein said pin is generally horizontally disposed and ispivotally mounted between said partitions.
 6. The invention of claim 1further comprising stop means on said member for limiting movement ofsaid retaining means in at least a forward direction of movement awayfrom said compartment.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein saidretaining means comprises a shutter pivotally mounted on said member andsaid stop means comprises at least one proturberance having a V-shapednotch formed thereon defining diverging surface portions positioned tolimit both clockwise and counterclockwise movements of said shutterabout a pivot axis thereof.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein curvedfront edges, at least in part defining said opening, are formed on thefront side of each partition to merge with said runner means.
 9. Theinvention of claim 8 wherein said runner means comprises an elongatedand generally horizontally disposed runner attached to each of saidpartitions in laterally spaced relationship.
 10. The invention of claim1 wherein said member comprises a plurality of separable and alignedsections attached together by common bolt means.
 11. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein at least three laterally spaced and vertically disposedpartitions define a said compartment between each pair of adjacentpartitions.
 12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said member comprisesfour of said partitions defining three compartments therebetween. 13.The invention of claim 1 wherein a top side of said member is open topermit the egress of a golf ball therethrough.
 14. The invention ofclaim 1 further comprising an elongated and collapsible handle attachedto said member.
 15. The invention of claim 14 further comprising meansfor adjusting the angle of said handle relative to said member.